News St Kilda to field standalone VFL team in 2026

[Grav]

What do you mean? I think the best way forward is the for VFA to reform as a separate entity to the AFL. make their own rules. Go back to 16 a side. Shorter quarters. More inclusive. Progressive media. Allow local retailers to flog food at games - safety permitted, and go from there. I don’t know, but i suspect that the number of kids playing footy is way down as a proportion of the population, as is any organized team sports. As is pretty much any activity that is not gaming and social media based, so numbers for teams may be lean. But …gotta do something.

As long as they have the Dandy Dollar Dash at half time, I agree.
Just won’t be the same without Norm Yemm not running though.

 

[sammm]

billy mcgee was an NGA for us

2023 AFL Draft Preview: St Kilda

St Kilda enters the 2023 AFL Draft on the back of a finals appearance and shrewd trade period. We preview their intake.

central.rookieme.com

and was part of Sandy in 2024

Billy McGee Galimberti joins the Zebs

www.sandringhamfc.com.au

thren GWS

Dogs Get Off The Leash In VFL To Take Down GIANTS

Footscray made it nine wins in a row after beating the GIANTS in the VFL on Friday.

www.gwsgiants.com.au

 

[Remboy]

I am quoting myself, thats terrible. but they should just have 21 teams or whatever and 20 games, each plays each other once. and if they want 23 games to match AFL (which they should) then they should either have a bye like the afl do, or have a special extra round

There's no way that will ever happen. For starters, it makes way too much sense.

 

[saintmike65]

9-10 players so far signed for our VFL side..

 

[GYoung]

9-10 players so far signed for our VFL side..

any ex-afl players

 

[ScrappyDo]

any ex-afl players

 

[saintmike65]

any ex-afl players

Doubt it

 

[Windtagger]

Sandringham just signed Adrian Cole.

 

[sammm]

Does anyone know if the saints will have a separate GM own coaches own development coaches ? or does anyone know the structure ?

 

[stavro#4]

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Doubt it

Gee I hope they can at least muster one or two good ones. Other standalone clubs have had some excellent players at that level. Hate to be going in with a similar level of talent as Sandy

 

[PoppedCorn]

how does it work?
these lads obviously cant ever get called up to the 1s?
if they ever want to play afl they just go into the draft?
any pref to the team affiliated with ?

explain to the newb

 

[Mat Mann]

I think those hoping we scoop up all the talent in our 1st year will be disappointed.
Sandy a better opportunity for those wanting to play a full season.
It's going to take a few years for things to run smoothly.

PoppedCorn no concessions/benefits for playing with an AFL run VFL side other than you spend a bit more time around the AFL system/facilities/coaching

 

[saintmike65]

Gee I hope they can at least muster one or two good ones. Other standalone clubs have had some excellent players at that level. Hate to be going in with a similar level of talent as Sandy

Players not currently linked to an AFL club may wait until after the national draft and ssp before committing to a VFL club

 

[sammm]

VFL Doctor

St Kilda Football Club

www.afl.com.au

 

[stavro#4]

 

[stavro#4]

St Kilda VFL has nabbed another Sandringham player, securing Bailey McKenzie to follow the signatures of Ned Maginness and Billy Richardson.
McKenzie finished the 2025 season strongly and averaged 14 disposals from his 11 matches for the Zebras.

Last year he came to notice with a bag of six goals in a preliminary final for the Sandy Dragons.

It’s understood McKenzie, Maginness, Richardson and another VFL recruit, Billy McGee Galimberti, will begin training with St Kilda’s first to fourth-year players on November 11.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Yeah Billy looked alright at times, dropped off towards the end of the season
Good size & a long accurate kick, contested marking did'nt seem to be a strength of his though, for a KP size player.
Jonah had that standout game where he kicked 5 goals.
But, it was against the now defunct Northern Bullants who provided very little pressure that day.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Liked the look of this kid
Knows how to find the footy, especially for a 193cm KP size player
Looked good back & forward at times.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

St Kilda VFL has nabbed another Sandringham player, securing Bailey McKenzie to follow the signatures of Ned Maginness and Billy Richardson.
McKenzie finished the 2025 season strongly and averaged 14 disposals from his 11 matches for the Zebras.

Last year he came to notice with a bag of six goals in a preliminary final for the Sandy Dragons.

It’s understood McKenzie, Maginness, Richardson and another VFL recruit, Billy McGee Galimberti, will begin training with St Kilda’s first to fourth-year players on November 11.

Interesting one with Galemberti, he was listed with Sandy Zebs at one stage but never played a game I think.
Then appeared on Gws's list for last season, played quite a few games & did alright.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

A few young lads attracting the attention of StKilda from AFL Outer East. Young fella polled well in Division one the other 50 plus goals.
Both 21.

 

[Significant]

A few young lads attracting the attention of StKilda from AFL Outer East. Young fella polled well in Division one the other 50 plus goals.
Both 21.

Name names mynames

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Name names mynames

Given enough away

 

[SG34]

Does leaving a spot open on the AFL list give access to VFL-only listed Saints a means to jum,p into the AFL list in the mid-season draft? Or do they go into the general draft and anyone could technically get them. I read that Geelong deliberately disperse and stash their target players in local leagues. I don't know how this strategy works, but I do wonder what advantage does a player have for being on a VFL only list?

 

[crinkoes]

Does leaving a spot open on the AFL list give access to VFL-only listed Saints a means to jum,p into the AFL list in the mid-season draft? Or do they go into the general draft and anyone could technically get them. I read that Geelong deliberately disperse and stash their target players in local leagues. I don't know how this strategy works, but I do wonder what advantage does a player have for being on a VFL only list?

We don’t get any priority access to take one of our VFL players in the mid season draft. We would have some sort of advantage in that we would have the most information on them and their training standards, work ethic etc from having them play and train with us.
However any other club with an earlier pick can take them before us, just as we did with taking Max Hall the pick before Hawthorn whilst he was with their VFL squad.